Golf practice equipment



June 19, 1928. 1,674,135

F. L. SHIDLER GOLF PRACTICE EQUIPMENT Ori inal Filed March 4, 1927INVENTOR:

FRANK L 6/4/04 EH3 mud,

A TTORNEY.

Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK L. SHIIDLER', or KANkAknn, ILLINOIS.

GOLF PRACTICE EeUrrMnNT.

Application filed March 4, 1927, Serial No. 172,726. Renewed November10, 1927.

This invention relates to an equipment and practice means for use inlearning and practicing what is known as the follow or carry-throughstroke in the game of golf, and has for its object To provide meanscomprising a ground target or mark convenient to the station of theplayer, a flight or guide strip or mark in aligned horizontal relationto sald ground target, and a suspended destination target in verticalaligned relation with said ground target and with a remote portion ofsaidflight strip, the designated elements or features being adapted toprovide a guiding and a training means for a learner or a player inattaining a perfect carry-through stroke with the use of a practiceclub, preferably of a type capable of successive change in the weight ofthe club head from a primary excessive weight to a lighter final weightof the head. An example of such type of practice club heads forms thesubject.

matter of acompanion application for Let ters Patent Serial No. 172,727,and all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying draw1ng1 Fig. 1, is a perspective view illustratingthe preferred arrangement of parts in this invention. I I a i Fig. 2, isa perspective view of the head portion of the preferred form of practiceclub.

In the usual instructions in the game of golf to the learner, are anumber of standard lessons, such as proper stance of the feet,

proper position or poise of the body, correct manner of gripping theclub shaft, and other minor items, which are deemed of im portance andnecessary to be learned and effected before the student can expect tomake a proper stroke in golf play.

An essential teaching following such preliminary .training is theattainment of a perfect execution of what is known as the carry-throughstroke, in which an absolute requirement is that. from the instant theclub head comes in contact with the ball, the club head must continue onto the completion of the stroke in the precise direction in which it isintended to drive the ball. Any variation from such requirement'usuallycauses the ball totake flight in a corresponding direction, not desiredby the player.

Experience has shown that it is very difficult to attain suchcarry-through stroke without the assistance of some equipment in that itcannot be expected that such muscles, etc. will respond properly, justwhen and how desired, when called upon to effect the golf strokeproperly. In like manner,

lack of opportunity to play regularly, or lnabillty to engage in regularpractice will tendto alike failure. And again, physical conditions,want-of complete control of the eyes in executing the golf strokeandlack of coordination, inconstructive practice, of the eyes, body andmind are largely responsible for poor results attained.

With a view to assist in overcoming the difficulties in learning aboveset forth, the present invention involves an equipment or apparatus asfollows:-

Adjacent to the position. ofthe player or learner, and upon the ground,floor or other horizontal surface employed, a ground target 1, usually acircular spot, is arranged or formed, and is intended to represent. thetee or spot at which a golf ball rests in ordinary playing.

From the target or spot 1, a straight strip or mark 2 extends along theground or other surface to constitute a guide or flight strip for theparty practicing.

Above the flight strip 2 and in vertical alignment therewith, adestination'target 3 is suspended by a flexible connection or cord 4, ata height above the flight. strip and at a distance from the groundtarget 1, so that it will be in the path of the head 5 of a c'lub stick6 in the hands of the player, to be struck by such head when the playerattains the perfect carry-through stroke and only then. lVith a view tothe proper elevated position of the destination target 3, its flexiblesupporting connection 4 has an adjustable formation 4 of any usual andsuitable construction, and while said flexible connection may dependfrom'a convenient overhead ceiling, roofor the like, in the preferredconstruction shown in Fig. 1, the flexible supporting connection at, isattached at its upper end to one end of an arm or bar, 7, the other endof which arm is pivotally attached to the upper end of an upright standor post 8, having a base 9 adapted to rest upon the ground or tloor andon a remote portion of the flight strip 2 as shown.

The destination target 3 will usually be of a spheroid shape, andpreferably of a l1ollow sound emitting construction so that when struckit will give an audible indication 01 the fact.

The p actice club used will preferably be of the type described indetail in my aforesaid companion application for Letters Patent, SerialNo. 172,727, in which the practice club head 5 is formed so as toreceive a series of intercluingeable excess weights 5' which are securedin a substantial manner to the club head by suitable fastening means.

The present equipment and system of use intended solely for practice andnot for playing the game, and no ball is used in such practice, theomission being intentional, it being very desirable that in order toattain perfect control of the eyes during practice, thatthe playershould be clearly impressed with the fact that nothing takes flightduring ractice and that he is to direct his gaze sole y to the grounddirectly in front of himself during theentire time the stroke is beingexecuted. In actual use the interchangeable series of excess weights 5ot the practice club are successively used, commencing with the heaviestone and at the commencement of the practice exercise of the learner orplayer. The excessive weight of the club head thus provided enables thelearner to accomplish the correct carry-through stroke with ease and aminimum effort on his part, in that the compelling action of the excessweight, when once in motion, influences the learners muscles, body,etc., to come into line and perform the exact functions and movementsnecessary to assist in making a perfect stroke. As the practice lessonprogresses, the learner auton'iatically performs such movements and thesame becomes easy and natural to perform without efiort or closeattention to details. At this point in the progress of the learner, thelighter excess weights 5 are attached and used in sequence so that whenthe learner has worked down to the bare club head, with no excess weightcarried, it will be found that the control in making a carry-throughstroke has passed from the club head to the learners muscles, body, etc.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An equipment for golf and like practice and instruction comprising incombination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, a destination target, and means for supporting thedestination target in aligned relation above a part of the flight stripremote from the ground target.

2. An equipment for golf and like practice and instruction comprising incombination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, a destination target having a spheroid shape, and means forsupporting the destination target in aligned relation above a part ofthe flight strip remote from the ground target.

:5. An equipment for golf and like prac lice and instruction comprisingin combination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or markextending therefrom, a destination target having a hollow soundproducing spheroid shape, and means for supporting the destinationtarget in aligned relation above a part of the flight strip remote fromthe ground target.

4. An equipment for golf and like practice and instruction comprising incombination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, a destination target, and means for supporting thedestination target in aligned relation above a. part of the flight stripremote from the ground target, the same comprising a portable stand, anadjustable arm at the upper end of said stand, and a flexible connectionbetween an end of said arm and the destination target.

5. An equipment for golf and like ractice and instruction comprising incom ination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, a destination target having a spheroid shape, and means forsupporting the destination target in aligned relation above a part ofthe flight strip remote from the ground target, the same comprising aportable stand, an adjustable arm at the upper end of said stand, and aflexible connection between end of said arm and the destination target.

(3. An equipment for golf and like praclice and instruction comprisingin combination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or markextending therefrom, a destination target having a hollow soundproducing spheroid shape, and means for supporting the destinationtarget in aligned relation above a part of the flight strip remote fromthe ground target, the same comprising a portable stand, an adjustablearm at the upper end of said stand, and a flexible connection between anend of said arm and the destination target.

7. An equipment for golf and like practice and instruction comprising incombination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, a destination target, and means for supporting the destination target in aligned relation above a part of the flight stripremote from the ground target, the same comprisin a portable stand, anadjustable arm at t e upper end of said stand, and a flexible andextensible connection between an end of said arm and the destinationtarget.

8. An equipment for golf and like practice and instruction comprising incombination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, a destination target having a spheroid shape and means forsupporting the destination target in aligned relation above a part ofthe flight strip remote from the ground target, the same comprising aportable stand, an adjustable arm at the upper end of said stand, and aflexible and extensible connection between an end of said arm and thedestination target.

9. An equipment for golf and like practice and instruction comprising incombination, a ground target or mark, a flight strip or mark extendingtherefrom, adestination target having a hollow sound producing spheroidshape, and means for supporting the destination target in alignedrelation above a part of the flight strip remote from the ground target,the same comprising a portable stand, an adjustable arm at'the upper endof said stand, and a flexible and ex tensible connection between an endoi said arm and the destination target.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of February, 1927.

FRANK L. SHIDLER.

